I am looking for the description of an aircraft (fixed or rotary)
capable of detecting "faint emissions, radiation or otherwise) from
small (1-5 KT) nuclear devices. For my purposes the aircraft does not
have to exist, but should be technicaly feasible in the next 10 years.
This is the kind of article one might find in Popular Science or
Mechanics Illustrated. I need a description of its capabilities, what
it might be able to detect and most important its limits. For example
it may have to fly no higher that 500 feet, or no faster than 80
knots.

Dear kongulu-ga 
The technology currently exists but detailed information on the
technical side appears to be classified. However, I have found some
general information which gives the equipment required, speed and
height of the planes and the physics involved.

The United States has the Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST) — a
special unit under the control of the Energy Department’s Nevada
Operations Office.
"NEST’s air force consists of four helicopters equipped with
radiological search systems, and three airplanes (a King Air B-200, a
Citation-II, and a Convair 580T) modified for remote sensing
missions."
More in an article at:
http://www.thebulletin.org/issues/2002/ma02/ma02richelson.html

The detection system is supplied by the Los Alamos National Laboratory
which is operated by the University of California for the US
Department of Energy:
"Long-Range Alpha Detector (LRAD)
A new method of monitoring alpha-particle-emitting nuclear materials
is in rapid development at NIS-6. Long-range alpha detector (LRAD)
technology includes monitoring personnel, equipment, soils, liquid and
gaseous effluents, and radon. LRAD technology is flexible enough to be
used in such diverse programs as arms control, safeguards,
decontamination and decommissioning, and environmental remediation."
http://www.milnet.com/milnet/nest/nis6_res.html
More information on LRADs can be found by using the search term below.

The US government also has the AMS (Aerial Measuring System) which
“detects, measures and tracks radioactive material at an emergency to
determine contamination levels.”
In a pdf file the aircraft deployment is discussed.
http://www.nv.doe.gov/news&pubs/dirpdfs/AMS_Final_June2002.pdf

I have found two articles where experiments were conducted in 1989. In
this experiment a helicopter using a detection device 2.5 metres
square detected an unshielded nuclear device from a range of 76
metres. The technology may have improved since then but the physics
remain the same and the article 'Detecting Nuclear Warheads' discusses
the problems.
Experiment described at: 
http://www.princeton.edu/~globsec/publications/pdf/1_3-4FetterC.pdf
The physics are discussed at "Detecting Nuclear Warheads":
http://www.princeton.edu/~globsec/publications/pdf/1_3-4FetterB.pdf

Please ask for clarification of this research, or if the links do not
work, before rating the answer.

answerfinder-ga

Variations on radiation, detection, nuclear, aircraft, helicopters
and
"Nuclear Emergency Search Team"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Nuclear+Emergency+Search+Team%22
"Long-Range Alpha Detector"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Long-Range+Alpha+Detector%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=30&sa=N&filter=0

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 21 Jan 2003 05:31 PST

Thanks for the tip. Glad I could be of help.
answerfinder-ga

Excellent answer. Solved my problem. Thank you.

Check this also: http://www.tt.aftac.gov/